STEM with Dr. Owl

Children will learn the biology behind how viruses invade our cells and how active ingredients in hand sanitizer break them apart. Join Dr. Owl, Emma, and Ziggy the Robot as they uncover the scientific mystery of whether germs are actually alive and discover why destroying a virus is just like popping a water balloon! Want more fun science? Sign up for our email list at orbitalowl.com to get free...

In this episode, kids will learn the foundational chemistry of plastic molecules and the environmental science behind why plastic takes hundreds of years to break down. Join Dr. Owl, Curious Emma, and a very confused robot named Ziggy as they discover the sneaky "LEGO chains" that make up our everyday lunchboxes! Plus, play along with our interactive trivia to find out how small choices can help p...

Learn the amazing biology and biomimicry behind how geckos, spiders, and tree frogs climb up walls without falling down! Dr. Owl, Emma, and Ziggy shrink down to the microscopic level to explore dry molecular hugs, super-strong spider silk, and self-cleaning sticky frog toes. Discover how human scientists are copying nature's coolest tricks to invent things like gecko tape for space ninja lizard ro...

Learn the fascinating materials science and physics behind adhesives, tape, and stretchy toys! Dr. Owl, Emma, and Ziggy investigate microscopic bumps and sticky bonds to find out why duct tape is super strong, why Post-it notes are reusable, and how squishy sticky hands hold onto windows. Plus, find out why dust is the ultimate enemy of stickiness, and hear the amazing true story of how astronauts...

Discover the future of space exploration, lunar habitats, and rocket fuel made from ice in this exciting astronomy adventure. Join Dr. Owl, Emma, and Ziggy as they learn what NASA has planned for Artemis III and find out why the Moon is the ultimate practice field for a human trip to Mars! Want more fun science? Sign up for our email list at orbitalowl.com to get free materials and experiments rel...

Learn the fundamental physics of motion, how engines transfer energy, and the mechanics of aerodynamics in this fast-paced episode. Listen as Emma, Dr. Owl, and Ziggy investigate a listener's question about the hidden systems that make vehicles drive, why engines desperately need oil to fight friction, and the clever design secrets that make race cars incredibly fast. Plus, find out why Ziggy's pl...

Kids will learn exactly how astronauts eat, sleep, and safely use the bathroom in the microgravity environment of the Orion spacecraft. Join Dr. Owl, Emma, and Ziggy the Robot as they discover why floating pizza crumbs are a serious hazard and how a space toilet acts just like a vacuum cleaner. Want more fun science? Sign up for our email list at orbitalowl.com to get free materials and experiment...

Kids will learn how the Artemis II spacecraft safely traveled around the Moon and back to Earth without ever landing. Join Dr. Owl, Emma, and Ziggy the Robot as they discover why this incredible test flight is a massive step toward future space exploration and trips to Mars. Want more fun science? Sign up for our email list at orbitalowl.com to get free materials and experiments related to this ep...

Learn how the human nervous system works and why feeling pain is actually the body's helpful fire alarm. Discover the super-speedy message wires that travel over 200 miles per hour straight to the brain, and find out exactly how medicines like Tylenol act like earmuffs to turn down the "ouch" volume! Want more fun science? Sign up for our email list at orbitalowl.com to get free materials and expe...

🐾 Kids will learn the fundamentals of biology, animal classification, and the scientific naming system known as binomial nomenclature in this fun-filled episode! Discover why a mountain lion and a puma are the exact same cat, and find out the hilarious meanings behind the names of famous dinosaurs and silly insects. Want more fun science? Sign up for our email list at orbitalowl.com to get free m...

Kids will learn about the different zones of the ocean, underwater geography like the continental shelf and the Mariana Trench, and the unique adaptations of deep-sea creatures. Join Dr. Owl, Emma, and Ziggy as they board a special science submarine and travel from the sunny beach all the way to the darkest depths of the sea! Discover giant underwater mountains, glowing anglerfish, and find out if...

Discover the fascinating earth science and geology behind how giant mountains and rocks break down to create the sand on our beaches. Join Dr. Owl, Emma, and Ziggy the robot as they explore the slow but powerful process of weathering, from ice karate-chopping boulders to rivers acting like giant rock blenders. You will even learn why some sand is pink and why you might be stepping on ancient dinos...

Learn how gravity and mass keep us on the ground and why people in Australia aren't actually standing upside down. Join Dr. Owl, Emma, and Ziggy the Robot as they discover the "Stuff Rule" and find out why the Moon has a much weaker gravity hug than Earth. Plus, see what happens when Ziggy tries to find a "gravity off" switch on a robot! Learning Connection: NGSS DCI: PS2.B – Types of Interactions...

Kids will learn the science behind thunderstorms, discovering how cumulonimbus clouds form and why lightning creates the loud shockwave of thunder. Join Dr. Owl, Emma, and Ziggy as they answer a fantastic question from 6-year-old Ellie, find out exactly how hot a lightning bolt really is, and learn a fun counting trick to figure out how far away a storm is! Want more fun science? Sign up for our e...

Learn how bats fly using wing anatomy, mammal biology, and echolocation to navigate in the dark. In this fun and interactive episode, kids discover how bats use their hands as wings, how flight works, and why bats are the only mammals that truly fly. Want more fun science? Sign up for our email list at orbitalowl.com to get free materials and experiments related to this episode. Learning Connectio...

Discover the invisible science of radio waves, cell towers, and underground networks that allow mobile phones to send text messages across the world. Join Dr. Owl, Emma, and Ziggy the Robot as they uncover how a picture of a kangaroo travels from Australia in just one second! Test your knowledge with fun trivia and learn why phone signals don't rely on tiny mail carriers. Want more fun science? Le...

🍦 Learn about the physics of melting, molecules, and the three states of matter as Ziggy the Robot desperately tries to stop his lime popsicle from turning into a sticky puddle! Join Dr. Owl and Emma for a "molecule dance party" to discover why heat makes the tiny building blocks of our world wiggle, jiggle, and slide apart. It is a science-tastic adventure filled with frozen soldiers, rock juice...

Learn how your body uses boogers and mucus as a secret superhero defense system to keep your lungs clean and healthy. Dr. Owl, Emma, and Ziggy the Robot explore the sticky world of "nose trash nuggets," discover how nose hairs act like filters, and find out why we make a whole liter of snot every single day! Learning Connection: NGSS DCI: LS1.A – Structure and Function

Today we're replaying one of our favorite past mysteries! Have you ever found fuzzy stuff growing on fruit? Let’s investigate what mold really is. 🍊 Discover the secret world of mold spores, fungi, and nature’s cleanup crew in this fun biology episode. Join Dr. Owl and Emma as they help Ziggy the Robot understand why his orange grew a "green beard" and how tiny spores float through the air to fin...

Biology of cells and chemical reactions are the focus of today's fruity investigation. Join Dr. Owl, Emma, and Ziggy as they shrink down to look at the tiny "water balloon" cells inside your favorite snacks. Discover why oxygen and enzymes turn your fruit brown and learn a fun experiment you can do in your own kitchen! Learning Connection: NGSS DCI: LS1.A – Structure and Function

Discover how the Earth's tilt and rotation create the changing seasons and why we shift our clocks for Daylight Saving Time. Join Emma, Dr. Owl, and a very confused Ziggy as they solve the mystery of the "missing hour" and learn why the sun stays out longer in the summer. Want more fun science? Sign up for our email list at orbitalowl.com to get free materials and experiments related to this episo...

Discover the science of states of matter, physical changes, and centrifugal force as we explore how cotton candy machines work. Join Dr. Owl, Emma, and a very sticky Ziggy as they learn how heat and spinning turn hard sugar crystals into fluffy, delicious clouds. We also reveal the world's longest cotton candy record and why this treat is called "Papa's Beard" in other countries! Learning Connecti...

Biology of baby features, dopamine brain chemicals, and the science of "cuteness" are explored in this heartwarming episode about our animal best friends. Join Dr. Owl and Emma as they discover why certain features switch on our "Care Mode" and how our brains give themselves a "hug" whenever we see a puppy, kitten, or bird. Don't forget to check out our previous episode on how animals became our p...

Crystals grow from cooling magma and mineral-rich water using invisible building blocks called atoms. Join Dr. Owl, Emma, and Ziggy on a subterranean adventure from the glowing Earth's mantle to a secret dripping cave to solve the mystery of the "lava smoothie." You’ll even learn how to build your own crystals at home using simple kitchen ingredients! Learning Connection: NGSS DCI: ESS2.A – Earth...

Discover how a piano works through the physics of levers, hammers, and sound vibrations. Join Dr. Owl and Emma as they rescue a shrunken Ziggy from inside the piano's "secret launcher" mechanism! You'll learn why short strings sound high, long strings sound low, and how a big wooden board acts like a giant amplifier. Educational Alignment: Learning Connection: NGSS DCI: PS4.A – Wave Properties (So...